Committee recommends hiring temporary administrative assistant; defers higher-level project specialist while planning general manager search

The Personnel Committee reviewed proposed changes to the district’s organizational chart and debated several new or revised job descriptions, ultimately agreeing to recommend hiring a temporary administrative assistant while returning the higher-level project specialist description to staff for redrafting.

Committee members said the administrative assistant would perform clerical duties, triage utility calls, run reports and help relieve supervisory staff. One member described the role as a temporary position that could help the district evaluate longer-term structure and workflow before committing budget for a permanent hire.

The project specialist position prompted more debate. Several members said the draft resembled a senior project manager or consultant role that could be expensive and duplicate duties expected of a future general manager. The committee discussed alternatives including contracting an organizational-development consultant to recommend long-term structure and to create job specifications for higher-level roles.

Members stressed the need to clean up and consolidate job descriptions (for example, security sergeant vs supervisor duties and the director of finance and administration titles) so the org chart accurately reflects current responsibilities. The Chair emphasized the need for a strategic-planning workshop to set board goals and to provide a clear orientation for any newly hired general manager.

Next steps: staff will bring the temporary administrative assistant to the board for approval this month; the project-specialist draft will be revised and returned to Personnel Committee in February so it can be considered for the March budget cycle. Members also directed staff to draft a revised general-manager job description and to consult HR ahead of personnel review.